Egypt

Ancient Israel lived at the interface between two "superpowers".
To the south, Egypt often sought to extend its influence along the Mediterranean
coast. To the East the Mesopotamian empires sought
territorial expansion, though because of the desert they approached Canaan from
the north.

One of the oldest civilizations, Egypt influenced biblical culture from the
time of the Patriarchs to that of Jesus. As "granary" of the area,
Egypt often served as "famine relief center" for the people of the
Bible. Egypt's fertility depended on a major river whose catchment area included
land far to the south, and so was less affected by localised drought. Egypt
was also a place of asylum for political refugees.

Because of Egypt's varied importance
it plays an interesting role in the book of Amos.

As well as the more theological use of Egypt as a symbol, discussed elsewhere, Amos talks
of Egypt's river, the Nile, (8:8;
9:5).